The commissioner apparently could not understand why the players insisted Fehr be able to rejoin the talks after he and Bettman had been excluded by mutual consent on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The reason is simple. The owners, according to several sources, attempted to pin the players down on agreeing to a CBA, much like an ADA offering a plea bargain to a defendant without representation.“I was told on Wednesday night [by an owner] that if we brought Don back in, that would be a deal-breaker,” said Winnipeg Jets defenseman Ron Hainsey, who is part of the NHLPA negotiating committee.

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This turn of events was not unexpected. Neither should anyone overact to it. Bettman and the Board are attempting to reprise the 2004-05 divide-and-conquer strategy that yielded dividends when players overthrew Bob Goodenow.

“We know what they’re up to,” a source on the players’ side told The Post. “They’re trying to create dissent within the union. They’re trying to scare us into makiing a deal.”